As a cancer and hospice physician, I care for people at the end of their lives. The average survival time for patients we see in our hospital is about 22 days. Daily I see the importance of spirituality as individuals reach out for consolation and strength from outside of themselves. The name that they use for this higher power may be different. It may be God, Prophet, Lord or Allah — or it may be an unnamed force.

I've come to believe that the need for spirituality — belief in a higher power — must be inherent in humans, much like the need for water and oxygen. We may have different belief systems, but at the end of the day we all reach for something over and above ourselves. As many of you have commented, taking care of ourselves includes nurturing our spirituality.

On a far lighter note, I want to share with you a new symptom of stress. I woke early one morning, did my usual workout and then hurriedly dressed for work. When a patient asked me to write a prescription, I reached into my jacket pocket for a pen. Much to my amazement (and my patient's), I pulled out a toothbrush! I think this is a new benchmark for burnout.

Has anyone else ever put their toothbrush in their pocket thinking it was a pen? A reminder that we need to slow down and live in the moment.

I did not find this terribly helpful. You bit off more than I wanted. I want to know how to feel better on a day by day basis for a loved one's condition which will go on and on for many years perhaps. too glib for me

Anne

February 26, 2010 1:05 p.m.

Spirituality is an integral part of my life. From daily meditation, to weekly church, and daily prayer - all of my spiritual practices have helped me maintain an even mood.

Barbara A

January 15, 2010 3:58 p.m.

Thanks for this. Happy to see the connection between spirituality and stress examined (I work in stress training myself and do meditation in workshop regularly) . 12 step programs of course have always acknowledged this. For me what is important is that no one definition of &quot;spirituality&quot; take over.
All the best from Brighton
Mark
http://integrationtraining.co.uk/
http://integrationtraining.blogspot.com/

Mark

January 12, 2010 2:39 p.m.

I started a high stress job after college. After around 19 straight of long hours and no days off, I started having &quot;sleep walking&quot; episodes. At some point in the night, I'd get up and start sorting through stuff. I woke up one morning with all these papers and office supplies in my bed because I'd dumped a bag of work on my bed in my sleep and sorted through it in the middle of the night.

TJ

January 2, 2010 10:17 p.m.

My spirituality is my sanity!

Chel

December 28, 2009 7:41 a.m.

All too often spirituality seems to be the missing ingredient in many treatment plans. Dr. Abraham Twerski, psychiatrist and founder of the Gateway Recovery Center in Pittsburgh, PA, argues that the core issue leading to many, if not all, mental illnesses (other than those with exclusively organic origins) is what Twerski describes as a Spiritual Deficiency Syndrome (SDS). He says that humans are spiritual beings and when our spiritual needs are not met, that an array of mental and affective disorders are sure to arise. In my blog, www.effectivefamilycommunication.com, I try very hard to write about the need to integrate spirituality into our daily lives, so as to live meaningfully and serenely.

Ben

December 23, 2009 11:25 a.m.

I hope you laughed hard after you pulled that toothbrush out of your pocket! (I did, and thanks for that.) To me burnout means a heavy weariness &amp; not wanting to continue, not distractedly putting your toothbrush in the wrong place. What you did is a call for &quot;slow down&quot; -a silent reminder from your brain-where burnout is call for major change. At any rate, those &quot;whoops&quot; moments are part of being human and we need to answer with a laugh...and be big enough to share the fun so others know they aren't the only ones who surprise themselves by doing &quot;something dumb.&quot; Sometimes that's very hard to do, but it always helps! (See, you just modeled a healthy reaction for us.)
And for your serious point, I agree wholeheartedly. It is too bad that many people seem to need to be so near death (their own or a loved one) to pay attention. A real problem is when someone does not not have (and demonstrate) respect for a tradition different from his/her own...at all times of the year and in all circumstances, not just holidays or when death is near.

susan

December 23, 2009 12:25 a.m.

Wholeheartedly agree...look at the history of the world

Chris

December 22, 2009 8:16 p.m.

On a light note, I have a nephew who put the milk in a cabinet and the cereal in the refrigerator.
On a serious note, I personally think it is necessary to have a higher power to call on. My personal involves the belief in the divine within as well as a power without. After all, by what force are the stars held in place? In times of duress, I've frequently called upon God to be my comforter. Barbara A - &quot;Cry Depression, Celebrate Recovery&quot; soon to be released

barbara

December 22, 2009 3:36 a.m.

I am Christian myself and I believe in what you said in your post that at the end of the day we reached out for something higher than ourselves and that taking care of ourselves include nurturing our spirituality.

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